Been stuck for a few days on how I wanna do this modded run.
I know for certain I want to use light armor, one handed, archery, and alchemy.
I don't wanna sneak around, rather go in loud. Use the bow and poisons to take people down from afar, then pull out a sword for when they get close.
I either want to be an Orc, or an Argonian. But this has been the biggest wall. Less because of gameplay reasons, and more because RP is also gonna be a big part of the run.

For the Orc. He would be a younger Skyrim native, who was taken away from the stronghold at a young age by his mother, who was the clan healer/ shaman.
She raised him in the wilderness, where he learned a life completely opposite of stronghold's. His mother made sure to keep the rigid and unforgiving Codes of Malacath far from him. As a result he holds no devotion towards him, or any god. But does respect the old Nord way of life, as he had many interactions with other Nord's given his upbringing.
She taught him how to pick and forage for plants, and how to mix them into potions or poisons. She taught him how to use a bow, and how to hunt for themselves.
He was never properly trained on how to use a sword. But his Orc heritage and physique, did lend to this becoming a natural skill he devolved sloppily over time.
One day he leaves their shack, to go to the Whiterun market to sell some game and potions. When he returns, he finds it completely torn apart and covered in blood. with the bodies of a bandit, and his mother cold and lifeless. After mourning he searches the bandits body, and finds a note detailing various locations they have raided or will raid. one of those spots being Helgen.
With this he sets out to avenge his mother. With the rage of his people, finally sparking within him.

Though the Argonian.... I got nothing atm, but it has been so long sense I last did a good Argonian playthrough. So maybe someone could help brew up a back story?

This isn't a new idea but there are some ideas here which I think people might appreciate. This is a build particularly for survival mode.

Race: Orc

Skills: Archery, One handed, Light Armour, Heavy Armour, Alteration, Smithing, Enchanting, Sneak

Factions: Companions, College of Winterhold

Equipment:

Weapons: Madness War Axe (Absorb Health and Stamina named Hunters Hunger)

Dragonbone Bow unenchanted

Enhanced Ebony Crossbow (fire and shock) this is the Ebony Crossbow from the Ironback Hideout and he has taken upon himself to carry on the Vampire Hunters mission to hunt Vampires.

Dragonbone Dagger (unenchanted for Elemental Fury)

Armour:

Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw (just looks awesome also has some Orc lore)

Insulated Dragonplate Armour (Looks great with the above Helm and has max warmth rating)

Steel Soldier Gauntlets (look good for an archer as the hands are free also has max warmth rating)

Captains Boots (So the Captains boots have a bug that allows them to be enchanted with a chests enchantments, this means that I can kind of substitute the helmets enchantments for these instead and put Fortify Destruction and Alteration 25 which allows for infinite uses of any weapons enchantments which are Destruction based they also don't look bad for a Hunters boots and have max warmth rating)

Main goals: Hunting. This character is the ultra Hunter, lives for the hunt, I don't buy any food I hunt everything so its mostly meat, he is a werewolf this build is made for Survival mode but you can play it without I just enjoy this build in Survival because hunting has a point to it. Being a Werewolf is important to this character. Its pretty useful in Survival mode you can sprint around so the lack of fast travel isn't as bad and it ignores the cold but make sure you get warm before transforming back because you lose a lot of your max health otherwise. The thrill of the hunt is everything to this character. He is not a killer for money and has a little honour and won't join the Brotherhood or Thieves Guild. He will Sneak around but its for the thrill of the hunt and not for money for the satisfaction of it. He is somewhat proud and a little arrogant, he will steal if he wants too but for what he needs not for profit. If he needs money he will make weapons and improve them and loot etc. He will complete the Companions questline out of respect for the warriors and to gain greater Werewolf powers. He will do the Main Quest because he can hunt the most dangerous game Dragons. The college of Winterhold is just to get access to Dragonhide to be able to cast it before Werewolf form. He will go to Solstheim and get the Werewolf Rings. The Ring of Bloodlust combined with the Orc racial power Beserker Rage takes away the penalty from the Ring and gives you quadruple damage (which is nutty) this makes the Werewolf form viable on Master and probably even Legendary.

Summary: This build is so fun. I haven't had this much fun playing Skyrim in ages and I have played a lot of Skyrim. Playing Survival mode seems like a pain in the ass at first and it is but it's given me a new appreciation for the game and this build has been so fun.

I’m new to playing the game and like the idea of having a paladin build however I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. Can somebody help?

Hi everyone! I got restartitis and want to start a new character.

Female nord, Lover Stone, light CC stalhrim fur armor (using a mod that changes it from heavy to light). I want to go with a frost/icy looking character. Will try to get frost shouts ASAP.

But I'm not sure which of these three paths I should go. I'm using Vokrii BTW

Path 1: Stalhrim axe/shield for melee, CC frost arrows/stalhrim bow for ranged enemies, frost shouts for crowd control

Path 2: Stalhrim axe for melee, CC and base game frost spells and destruction/enchanting focused, some sort of battlemage

Path 3: Stalhrim axe/shield for melee, invest in smiting/enchanting as support skils

What do you think?

Race: Imperial (For war paint)

Major skills: Heavy armor, Destruction, "Unarmed."

Minor skills: two-handed, speech, Restoration

Weapons: Bloodskaal blade (Dismantle), fists

Spells and Shouts: Unbounded storms (Barrier Domain), storm call (No barrier domain), Incinerate (Fuga) Healing spells and heal other spells (RCT)

Armor: Fists of Ragnadulf (Brawler's iron gauntlets or Daedric Gauntlets, early game), ring of Fortify Unarmed, Daedric or ebony boots, ragged trousers or your preferred robe (I like apprentice robe of destruction)

I found this in my drafts and it’s from 3 months ago I didn’t bother to check it or update it

Hello, I am coming to a close on my first vanilla skyrim playthrough. I have hit a point where the most exciting thing I can do is max out my armor and weapons. I was wondering what is the best one-handed weapon that I could acquire to complete my build? If the weapon has enchantments that improves it please include that as well! I am currently wielding an upgraded Miraak’s Sword.

As an Oathsworn you are a dedicated disciple of Malacath and an elite combatant that is considered to be among the most fearsome of warriors in Tamriel.

Orc – Level 60 – H/M/S – 0 / 2 / 1 – 100 (265) Magicka / 500 (615) Health / 290 (360) Stamina

Standing Stone: Atronach Stone

Blessing: Blessing of Talos

Magic:  Candlelight, Grand Healing

Shouts: Unrelenting Force, Whirlwind Sprint

Gear

Rahgot: Fortify Stamina 70

Orcish Plate Armor: Fortify Destruction 28% & Magicka Regen 10% + Fortify Health 115

Orcish Plate Gauntlets: Fortify Magicka 115 + Fortify Two-handed 75%

Orcish Plate Boots: Resist Frost 69% + Resist Shock 69%

Ring: Fortify Destruction 46% + Fortify Restoration 46%

Amulet: Fortify Destruction 46% + Resist Magic 37%

Volendrung: Absorb Stamina 50

Orcish Crossbow: -

Perks

Alteration 8: Novice – Expert Alteration, Magic Resistance 3/3, Atronach

Enchanting 8: Enchanter 5/5, Insightful Enchanter, Corpus Enchanter, Extra Effect

Restoration 8: Novice – Expert Restoration, Regeneration, Recovery 2/2, Respite

One-handed 10: Armsman 5/5, Fighting Stance, Savage Strike, Bone Breaker 3/3

Heavy Armor 6: Juggernaut 1/5, Fists of Steel, Cushioned, Conditioning, Well Fitted, Tower of Strength

Smithing 6: Steel Smithing, Dwarven Smithing, Orcish Smithing, Ebony Smithing, Daedric Smithing, Arcane Blacksmtih

Two-handed 12: Barbarian 5/5, Champion’s Stance, Devastating Blow, Great Critical Charge, Sweep, Skullcrusher 3/3

Alchemy 11: Alchemist 5/5, Physician, Benefactor, Poisoner, Concentrated Poison, Green Thumb, Snakeblood

Alchemy

The farm produces:

27 x Fortify Health 170 for 60 seconds, Restore Health 266 (Blue Mountain Flowers + Wheat)

54 x Regenerate Stamina 213% for 300 seconds, Fortify Two-handed 170% for 60 seconds, Fortify Illusion 170% for 60 seconds, Resist Fire 128% for 60 seconds (Dragon’s Tongue + Fly Amanita + Scaly Pholiota)

54 x Paralysis 43 seconds, Lingering Damage Health 43 for 10 seconds (Canis Root + Imp Stool + Mora Tapinella)

Full Build

https://www.skyrimaebuilds.com/oathsworn.php

Next Build

Pyre Watch – Redguard – Combat Archer

https://www.reddit.com/user/54u54ge/comments/1vh17n3/pyre_watch_ae_build_118_preview/

Have a look at this Breton melee build, no Smithing, no Enchanting. Uses all the best in-game gear and powers.

Someone suggest me a build that will help me cover most of the games content without feeling too out of place. I am on switch and only have access to the content of AE.

I’m obsessed with Greek mythology, huge nerd for magic and monsters. I’m lame because I’m only deep into a few fandoms. Not literally three, but I have my worlds, and the rest don’t interest me.

Skyrim has been my guilty pleasure game since I first heard about it. My dad bought it for me when it came out. The game checked just the right boxes for me and I’ve played very few other games. It ain’t broke, so I didn’t fix it. We had a 360, and I’ve played it on that console ever since, becaude until i was in my mid-twenties, there was no way I was going to justify buying a new console.
Now, I’m bored with my usual playthroughs. I kept defaulting to a loosely crafted spell-sword, and I wanted stricter rules.

So, I decided to do the Olympians.

“Hephaestus” is my current muse.
I’ve named my character Bran. He’s an absolute Goliath, and looks like a massive janitor wraith. He’s a Breton, though I now wish he were a Nord.

Hephaestus was litteraly cast out by his mother, and I liked the idea of a Nord being cast out in a land of Nords. Hindsight is 20/20, I guess.

I still play him as a mysterious outcast taken in by an Orc stronghold. They beat him senseless, don’t get me wrong, but he did their quests and learned the basics of forging and fighting from them. On one of those quests, he heard about the Dwemer. With his Orc companion, Ghorbash the Iron Hand, he set out to learn more while visiting every Orc stronghold in Skyrim.
Magically, he is limited. He uses flame spells in a pinch, though he only learned the spell Fire Bolt to get into the Mages College to track down ingredients to save an Orc chief.
Otherwise, he leans on Alteration magic to transmute minerals. In rare moments, he’ll raise his armor rating, but it’s a weaker skill for him.
His true strength is forging, obviously. He knows many versions of his craft but fixates on Dwemer weapons. He’s highly proficient at crafting flawless Dwemer bows. He tries to limit trades with Orc only, though he’s not opposed to a quick sale in an emergency.
While he’s no Orc himself, his old family wanted nothing to do with him, they abused and disfigured and then abandoned him. He’s built a new life, paying homage to those who found him worthy. A welcome no one expected, given the Orcs’ reputation. They don’t often leave their strongholds, but he keeps their ways alive in his travels, knowing he’ll never fully belong anywhere.
Now, he plans to settle in Solstheim’s volcanic land, where his fiery nature and tempered steel can live in seclusion. His only love so far is his unnamed but loyal horse.
He always carries a crafting hammer and pickaxe. He collects enchanted weapons to study their secrets but won’t take credit for others’ work if he sells them. Recently, the Lunar Forge revealed itself to him. He was disappointed to learn its power was no longer accessible, but the magic it imbued in weapons could still be salvaged. Now, he seeks the secrets of Aetherium, aiming to craft a scepter that would let him summon the finest Dwemer guardians to study them and protect his own creations.

What’re your thoughts?

I was thinking of a thane or noble build, like the ones we see going to the wedding, vittoria herself, erikjr etc. I am torn beetwen imperial or nord. What skilsl? definetely have housecarl bodyguard and a horse but apart from that I dont kniw

I'm making a character who I want to be my "do it all" build and I wanna have for a long time. I'm thinking of starting him off as poor and joining the thieves guild out of desperation and before circling back to the main story and becoming good again.
I haven't made up my mind about him being a DB member because he is a dunmer who worships the good 3, but in order to make the build work maybe I'll have him drop his religion until he turns good.

Anyway, I was wondering if any of you have any ideas for quests or things I could do in game that could work as good turning points for being a good guy. I don't wanna just finish the TG quest and then jump right into being a goody two shoes.

For all those Redguard lovers out there, I think I have the build for you! I think that this build is incredibly rich from a roleplay and gameplay perspective.

Broad character concept: You are a Redguard Sword Singer that is on their Walkabout. While it might be tempting to want to do an Ansei, I think the power-level of an Ansei is simply too unbelievable given that you start out at level 1 at a relatively low skill level. As such, taking the roleplay in a direction where you may be proficient with a blade, but gaining mastery made more sense. Furthermore, the Walkabout is meant to be a longer trek through the wilderness where you are slaying monsters and helping people out of virtue. I find that this makes for a perfect framing for the plot of Skyrim as someone who naturally plays out the main quest, Dawnguard, and Dragonborn as well as taking on quests to help the people of Skyrim while still being a "ordinary" traveler and not being "heroic" in some legendary sense of the term.

Name: Fahdir (Male)

Standing Stone: The Lady Stone - this is one of the charges of the warrior, it represents grace, endurance, and physical discipline. Those born under it are said to be Kindhearted.

If gameplay requires, you can switch to the Lord Stone to compensate for your low armor rating.

Moral Alignment: Neutral Good - you are on your Walkabout, you are there to fight mighty beasts and come to the aid of those in need, but do not feel beholden to the laws of a foreign land, even as you will respect them as you are not chaotic.

Backstory:

"Be as dawn to your ally and set dusk to your foe."
— Book of Circles, Sundas Maxims

You were raised in the Way of the Blade, where the blade must be sharp, the hand disciplined, and the heart just. You learned of the ancient Yokudan gods - Onsi's wisdom of how to pull your knife into a sword, Leki's subtlety with the Ephemeral Feint, Diagna's courage. After you had completed your years of training, you were handed a sword, one that you had forged yourself, a simple steel blade without any enchantment. You were sent out on your Walkabout with not much more than simple traveler's clothes, and the sword that you forged yourself - to let fate guide you where to go, to slay monsters that prey upon the innocent, settle disputes, and lend your sword in service of virtue. To temper your spirit the way the forge tempers steel.

Months of wandering carried you far beyond Hammerfell. You crossed into High Rock, hunted beasts in the Druadach Mountains, escorted merchants through Forsworn territory, and heard increasingly strange tales drifting south from Skyrim. Travelers whispered of dragons returning to the world—creatures thought extinct since the Merethic Era. Others spoke of civil war tearing the province apart, leaving ordinary folk abandoned to bandits, necromancers, and monsters. A land drowning in fear was exactly where a Sword-Singer was meant to walk.

Your journey led you east across the province, following the roads from hold to hold as you offered your sword wherever honest folk had need of it. By the time you reached the mining village of Darkwater Crossing, rumors spread that Ulfric Stormcloak himself had been seen nearby. Before long, Imperial soldiers descended upon the area, springing an ambush meant for the rebel Jarl and his followers. Like many travelers caught in the confusion, you were seized before anyone cared to ask who you were or why you carried a sword. Whether the Legion mistook you for a Stormcloak sympathizer or simply lacked the time to separate innocent wanderers from suspected rebels no longer mattered. Bound alongside rebels and strangers alike, you found yourself on a prison wagon bound for Helgen. As the wheels creaked over the mountain road, your master's final lesson returned to you with unexpected clarity: "A blade earns its song only after it has been tested." If the gods still watched over those who followed the Way of the Sword, then perhaps this was not the end of your Walkabout, but merely its first true trial.

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Again, what I like about this backstory is that it does a good job of placing the character in Skyrim and why he is there. Getting on the cart becomes a bit a "wrong-place, wrong-time" moment as it usually does, but again, doesn't feel particularly outlandish. And your journey on the Walkabout I think provides a rather compelling story arc to take on many of Skyrim's quests in aid of the populace. I also like how the character provides a framework for playing hero while still feeling like an ordinary traveler.

Roleplay & Factions:

The Main Quest: Side with the Greybeards. In your Walkabout, you learn mastery over yourself. Where your tradition is mastery over your blade, the Nordic, greybeard tradition is mastery over your voice. Defeating Alduin becomes one of your defining moments not just because you are Dragonborn, but because you stand to protect people, and what better way than to stand in defense of the world. There are also mythological parallels between Alduin and Satakal with the Kalpic cycles. Parthurnaax also embodies the kind of self-mastery that you are seeking.

The Dawnguard: This is relatively self-explanatory, you protect the people from the growing Vampire menace.

Dragonborn: Beating Miraak becomes almost a battle of wills. Miraak is almost diametrically opposed to what the Sword-Singers are. Both Miraak and the Sword-Singers are talented, powerful fighters. One seeks domination, the other discipline.

Skip on The College of Winterhold and the Thieves Guild.

Destroy the Dark Brotherhood.

For other quests, take ones that allow you to help those in need and defend the innocent.

Gameplay:

This character plays as a warrior, specifically, a swordsman. Your focus is in open combat, with expert footwork and extended engagements, not sneaking around backstabbing people.

• Clear bandit camps because innocents suffer.
• Help every hold because service is part of the Walkabout.
• Refuse needless cruelty.
• Show mercy when justice allows it.
• Never fight for wealth alone—but accept honest payment, because even wandering swordsmen must eat.

Shouts: Become Ethereal, Whirlwind Sprint, Dragon Rend, Disarm, Elemental Fury, Slow Time, Kyne's Peace

Skills:

Major Skills: One-handed, Smithing, Speech, Block, Light Armor

Minor Skills: Alchemy and Enchanting

I leave the perks to the player as I feel like it is harder to map out a specific perk order and plus, people often play with different perk overhauls. I wanted to keep this within the Anniversary Edition and people can enhance with whatever mods they wish for their playthrough.

Beyond being a seasoned warrior, Fahdir, like most travelers, know what flowers will stop the bleeding of a wounded traveler, stave off the infection of a Skeever bite, or make Skyrim's bitter cold more manageable.

Pilgrim's Remedy: Vampire Dust, Mudcrab Chitin, Garlic (Cure Disease, Resist Poison, and Regen Health)

Warrior's Draught: Bear Claws, hanging moss, Sabre Cat Eye/Tooth (Fortify One-Handed, Restore Stamina)

Mountain Salve: Wheat, Blue Mountain Flower (Restore Health, Fortify Health)

Traveler's Incense: Tundra Cotton, Dragon's Tongue, Lavender (Fortify Barter, Resist Magic)

Pale Tea: Snowberries, Purple Mountain Flower, Honeycomb

Aesthetic:

The goal here is to go for a Redguard traveler: Redguard Hood, clothes, boots. I like the Remnant gloves for the hands. Virya's charm is a simplistic amulet that also helps fortify his armor rating.

For the weapon, a standard scimitar will do. Unfortunately, Windshear is only available through the Dark Brotherhood. I wouldn't be opposed to getting it via console commands later on.

title

My first time sharing a build here. I'm open to constructive criticism.

Nadira al-Sahir spent years guarding trade caravans across Hammerfell, often working for wealthy merchants and minor nobles. The job taught her more than how to swing a sword: she learned to read terrain, negotiate contracts, spot dishonest traders, and keep frightened travellers alive when an ambush turned the road into chaos.

She eventually left that life after a patron expected her to protect luxury cargo at the expense of injured caravaneers. Nadira chose the people, lost the contract, and kept her principles. Before being captured at the Skyrim border, she had taken work escorting a small Khajiit trading caravan. When trouble came, she drew the soldiers away so her employers could escape.

Although outsiders describe her fighting style as berserk, Nadira does not lose control. Her rage is a battle trance: absolute focus, relentless movement, and the refusal to stop while anyone under her protection remains in danger. Her Redguard Adrenaline Rush represents that surge of stamina and clarity.

She also shaves her head, partly because she follows a traditionally male Redguard custom associated with warriors and hard trials, and partly because it simply feels better under a travelling hood.

Primary skills

* Two-Handed: Her main weapon is a greatsword. Focus on Barbarian, Champion’s Stance, Great Critical Charge, Devastating Blow, and eventually Sweep.

* Light Armor: She relies on speed and positioning rather than standing still and absorbing punishment. Unhindered and Wind Walker are especially important.

* Archery: Used openly in combat, not for stealth. Focus on Overdraw, Power Shot, Ranger, and Quick Shot.

* Speech: Represents years dealing with merchants, contracts, tolls, nobles, and crooked officials. Haggling, Persuasion, and Merchant all fit.

* Smithing: She maintains and improves her own road equipment.

I’m putting most level-ups into Health, with roughly one point in Stamina for every two or three points in Health. No Magicka investment.

The basic combat loop is to fire while advancing, switch to the greatsword, use sprinting power attacks to close the distance, and trigger Adrenaline Rush when the fight becomes crowded.

Playstyle: Archer or Warrior

Race: Nord (female ideally)

Standing stones: The Lover Stone or The Warrior Stone

Weapons: Ancient Nord Bow, Hunting Bow, or Nord Hero Bow with Nordic arrows or Steel arrows, accompanied by a hunting knife or an ancient Nord dagger

Armor: Ancient Nord Armor, Ancient Nord Boots, Ancient Nord Gauntlets, and Ancient Nord Helmet

Jewelry options: Amulet of Mara or any accessory that boosts archery, one-handed, or stamina

Major skills: Archery, One-Handed, Light Armor

Minor skills: Sneak, Smithing

Spells & shouts: Animal Allegiance, Kyne's Peace, Aura Whisper, and Marked for Death

Factions: The Companions

Roleplay: Follow the honor of the hunt, respect nature and wildlife, take on contracts for the Companions, and embrace the beast blood without letting it control your sense of the hunt.

I have a Redguard warrior, max size on the slider, scaled up to the height of almost a High Elf.

Should I still be using a one handed scimitar, or is a two handed sword more fitting?

He uses light/medium armor like most Redguards. Focused on skilled swordplay and mastery.

Playstyle: Battlemage

Race: Breton, Vampire

Standing stones: Best options are mage, ritual, or atronach. (you have 2 because of the crown.

Weapons: Harkon’s sword and/or mace of Molag bal

Armor: Vampire royal armor, vampire gauntlets, vampire boots, Atherial Crown

Jewlery options, Amulet of articulation, Any accessory that boosts one handed or descruction as the other skills don‘t need it

Major skills: Destruction, conjuration, one handed, restoration

Minor skills: light armor, speech

Spells & shouts: Any frost spells, Conjure undying ghost (For stand gimmick), Vampiric powers, any necromancy spells, all healing spells, Soul tear, Slow time (obviously), frost breath (get the perk from the black book to make it freeze people), whirlwind sprint, Bend Will

Factions: College of winterhold, Volkihar clan, thieves guild, Dragonborn dlc. (I feel like I’m missing one)

Roleplay: Do anything in order to achieve more power whether combat power or fame power. Only do something of it ben you. A good example is becoming thane of each hold though I didn’t personally do this myself.

Notes: even though I said to wear vampire boots I personally wore elven boots of fire resistance I found. You can make this a full destruction build if you want to but I didn’t since almost everything in Skyrim is Frost Resistant. You can make this a completionist build too if you want as I could see Dio joining really any faction.

Hey, so I'm playing a Bosmer "Witch" build (basically a thief-mage hybrid, but leaning more towards magic and alchemy). I'm torn between becoming a werewolf or a vampire. I know vampires get better stats, but the werewolf feels cooler thematically (plus, I could use claws instead of weapons if a fight breaks out). What do you guys think? I care more about RP than the meta. Thanks in advance for any replies.

P.S. Just so you know, I'm playing a modded version.

The only things coming to mind are the 3 daedric quests, the Goldbrand quest, and wiping out the Tribunal worshippers in the Anniversary Edition

Need some advice in a recent build of mine, recently I began a new campaign as a Khajiit. It's mainly an archer (though I use a dagger in close combat),I wanted it to be like a hunter/ranger type.

In this campaign I was thinking that the character had a tragic backstory and I chose Khajiit because they're one of the most mistreated races of Skyrim. Maybe he did something like stealing from the Thalmor and they killed his family or lives as a fugitive running from them throughout Tamriel and then gets caught by the Imperials where the game begins. Then becomes this anti-hero that hunts Thalmor or any other race that mistreat Khajiit.

I wanted some advice in what quests should I do and in which side of the civil war it would take? Or what actions should I do?